Retriever for submerged articles



Allg 15, 1949 l.. E. PERKINS RETRIEVER FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES Filed NOV. 29, 1945 m i 0 n Patented Aug. 16', 1949 UNITED STATES 1f .PATENT-crucial RETRIEVER FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES Layton E. Perkins, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor of one-half to Frank G. Fetzer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November 29, 1945, ySerial No. 631,704

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in retrievers for submerged articles.

Fishermen and others who use boats are quite likely to lose valuable articles overboard. Where the water is fairly deep it is often impossible to locate the submerged article and this is particularly true if the loss is not noticed until an interval of time has elapsed. It is quite common for valuable casting rods to be dropped in the water, and it isalso quite common for outboard motors to become detached from the boat and fall overboard.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved retriever for submerged articles which is in the nature of a relatively simple and inexpensive attachment, the retriever being so constructed that the submerged article can be located almost immediately and easily pulled into the boat.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device as above described which comprises tWo normally connected parts, one being permanently connected to the valuable article,

'and the other forming a cap for the first part and also being a float, there being means in the retriever responsive to the action of Water for releasing the float from the first part of the unit, and there being a relatively long retrieving cord connecting said two parts'.

A further, more specic object of the invention is to provide a device as above described in which the two parts of the device are normally held together against the tension of a spring by a replaceable cartridge, there being a retrieving line Y within the cartridge and the cartridge comprising spaced heads which are normally connected by material which is readily broken or releasable when submerged in Water in response to the action of the Water thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retriever as above described, wherein the cartridge may include a capsule containing a dye or other material to color the Water in the region of the submerged article.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, which is small and compact, neat in appearance, inexpensive,

and' Well adapted for the'purpose described.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved retriever for submerged articles, and all its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one Y complete 'embodiment of the preferred form of 2 the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views: Y

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the end vof the handle of a casting rod showing the improved device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View on an enlarged scale ofthe retrieving device alone;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the two parts of the retrieving device in longitudinal section after the cartridge wall has broken; and

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a casting rod on the bottom of a lake with one portion of the retrieving device connected thereto, and with the other portion of the retrieving device floating on thesurface of the Water and connected by a retrieving line with the casting rod. Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device includes an outer container having two separable parts, 8 and 9. rIfhe part 8 is preferably cylindrical and is formed of metal, plastic material, or any other suitable substance. One end of the bodyportion 8` is preferably closed as at I0 and the other end is adapted to be closed by the cap part 9 when the device is in the assembled position of Figs. 1 and 2. f

The part 9 includes a dished cover forming portion Il secured to a cup-shapedmember I2 by welding Vor the like as atr I3. vThe arrangement is such that thereis a water tight air chamber within the portion 9 so that the latter can act as a oat as will be hereinafter explained. In lieu of the hollow float illustrated and described, Wood, cork or other buoyantmaterial may be employed.

Secured to the interior of the end Wall I0 of the body portion 8 is a U-shaped spring steel clip I4 having oppositely disposed legs I5 which are yieldable. The legs I5 are formed with nwardly offset projections I6. Secured to the inner face 'of they float 9 is'a'spring steel clip II having spaced legs I8 formed with openings I9.

An important part of the invention is the replaceable cartridge which is indicated generally by the numeral 20. The cartridge includes oppositely disposed heads 2| and 22 which ,are preferably circular in shape. The heads are connected by a release member 23, preferably cylindrical, `which is glued or otherwise secured to the headsasat24and25. n f

The head 2| is positionable` between thelegs I8 of the clip I1 and a pin 26eXtending transversely through the head 2| has projecting ends which are adapted to snap into the holes I9 of the legs I8 of the spring clip l1, as is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The opposite head 22 is formed with a peripheral groove '21 which is engaged by the projections IB of the legs l of the spring clip lll when the head 22 is pushed into position in the clip. Connected at one end to the head 22 as at 23 is a retrieving cord 29. The cord is wound up within the cartridge and has its other end permanently connected as at 36 to the head 2 I It is also contemplated that the cartridge may hold a capsule 3| containing a dye or other coloring material. The container for the capsule may be formed of any material which will quickly disintegrate or dissolve in water to release the dye. serve as a spindle on which the retrieving cord may be wound.

The cylindrical release member 23 may be formed of a material such as Ipaper which will be strong enough to prevent the coil spring 32 from expanding when it is in the compressed position of Fig. 2. The paper or other material must also be of a type which will lose strength rapidly when submerged in water so that the force of the spring 32 will break the release member, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, when the latter is Water soaked. To give greater rigidity to the cartridge a cardboard cylinder 23 may be used within the release member 23. The ends of the cardboard cylinder are not secured to the heads 2l and 22.

In lieu of having the release member 23 formed of material such as papers, it may be formed of some other suitable material and one of the ends may be so connected to one of the heads 2l or 22 that the connection will automatically release itself when exposed to the action of the water. This result may be obtained by using a water soluble glue for securing one or both of the ends of the release member 23 to one or both of the heads 2| and 22.

The retriever may be attached in any suitable way to a valuable article. The device illustrated is particularly adapted for connection to the handle 33 of a casting rod 34, by'means of a screw 35 which extends through the clip i4 and end wall I0 and into the end of the handle in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

If the casting rod should be accidently dropped overboard, as is illustrated in Fig. 4, the water passing through the holes 36 on the body 8 will quickly act upon the cartridge'to so weaken the release member 23 or its connection with one of the heads that the spring 32 can expand and separate the float portion 9 from the main body portion 8. The oat portion 9 will immediately rise to the surface as is indicated in Fig. 4, pulling the retrieving line 29 with it. 'I'he other end of the retrieving line will, of course, remain connected to the head 22. The fish pole may, therefore, be readily retrieved by pulling in on the float 9 and the line connected therewith.

Where a cartridge with the capsule 3l containing dye is used, this capsule will also quickly disintegrate when submerged in water to release a` dye for the purpose of coloring the water in the vicinity of the submerged article, This is particularly useful Where the article is dropped in very deep water which may even be deeper than the length of line which it is possible to carry within the cartridge. In such a case, the float will rise as far as it can and will then remain somewhat below the surface of the water. However, the dye will mark the spot and by use of a'suitable im- Where such .a capsule is employedit may l '4 plement it is usually possible to engage and pull up the float 9, line connected therewith, and lost article.

When it is desired to use the device of the present invention in connection with an outboard motor it is preferable to secure two of the devices to the motor so that there will be two iioats and two retrieving lines. This will facilitate the lifting of the relatively heavy object. The retriever may, of course, be made in various sizes, depending upon the type of article for which it is intended.

After an article has been retrieved, the old heads 2l and 22 are removed from the float and body portions and thrown away. A new replace- -ment cartridgeis then pushed into the body portion 9 with the head 22 being guided between the legs i3 of the yielding clip. By exerting a slight amountv of pressure the yielding projections i3 will snap into the circular groove 2l of the head to lock the head in position. Next, the float portion 9 is pushed inwardly against the tension of the coil spring 32 to compress the latter. As the float portion` nears the iinal position of Fig. 2, the ends of the pin 26 on the replacement cartridge will snap into position in the holes i9 of the yielding legs of the clip member il to lock the parts in the assembled position of Figs. l and 2.

While the use of a spring, such as the'coil spring 32, is advantageous because it hastens the breakage of the cartridge after the retriever is submerged, nevertheless the use of a spring is not essential. It is also clear that other specinc arrangements may be employed for releasing the float portion, as long as the arrangement includes means which is acted upon by water when the retriever is submerged. Various other changes and modilications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

, What I claim is:

1. A retriever comprising a hollow body having one end open, a float portion normally forming a cover for said open end yof said body portion, a coil spring normally housed within said body portion between said cover and the opposite end of the body portion, means within said body portion normally connecting said cover forming lfloat portion to said body portion while maintaining said coil spring in compressed condition, said connecting means including releaseable means normally located within said coil spring which is so positioned as to be subjected to strains from the energy stored in said compressed spring and which is so constructed as to be unable to resist said strains when acted upon by water, and a retrieving line normally housed within said body portion and connected at one end to said body portion and at its other end to said iioat portion, said retriever having an opening for admitting water to the interior when the retriever is submerged.

2. A retriever comprising a body portion connectable to an article, a float portion, a-renewable cartridge having opposite ends and including means releaseable Whensubmerged in water in response to the action of ywater thereon for normally connecting said float portion to said body portion, a retrieving line within said cartridge and connected Vto opposite ends thereof, one of said cartridge ends being connected at one end to said. body portion and at the other to said iioat portion, and a dye containing capsule 'normally housed in said cartridge, said capsule being responsive to the Yaction of water to release said dye. Y

3. A retriever comprising a, hollow body portion connectable to an article and having one end open, a float portion normally forming a cover for said open end of said body portion, a coil' spring normally housed within said body portion betweensaid cover and the opposite end of the body portion, a cartridge within said body portion and spring normally connecting said cover forming float portion to said body portion while maintaining said 4coil spring in compressed condition, said cartridge having opposite ends and including releaseable means between said opposite ends which is so positioned as to be subjected to strains from the energy stored in said compressed spring and said releaseable means being constructed of fibrous material which is so weakened by water as to be unable to resist breakage when submerged, and a retrieving line normally housed within said cartridge and having its end-s connected to the endsvof said cartridge, said retriever having an opening for admitting water to the interior when the retriever is submerged.

4. A retriever comprising a hollow body portion connectable to an article and having one end open, a float portion normally forming a cover for said open end of said body portion, a cartridge having oppositely disposed ends and located within said body portion and normally connecting said cover forming float portion to the body portion and including a paper cylinder normally connecting said ends which is breakable when submerged in water in response to the action of water thereon, and a retrieving line normally conned within said paper cylinder and connected to said opposite ends thereof, said retriever having an opening for admitting water to the interior when the retriever is submerged.

5. A retriever comprising a body portion connectable to an article, a, iioat portion, and a renewable cartridge having opposite ends readily connectable to -said body portion and oat portion and normally connecting said two portions together, said cartridge including means releaseable when submerged in water in response to the action of water thereon for breaking the connection between said body portion and float portion, and a retrieving line normally forming a part of said cartridge and having its ends connected to said ends of the cartridge, said retriever having an opening for admitting water to the interior when the retriever is submerged,

6. A retriever comprising a body portion connectable to an article, a float portion, and a renewable cartridge having oppositely disposed heads one of which is readily connectable to said body portion and the other of which is readily connectable to said oat portion, said head-s being normally connected by a release member which is releaseable when submerged in water in response to the action of water thereon,rand a retrieving line normally confined within said cartridge and connected at one end to one of said heads and at its other end to the other of said heads.

7. A retriever compri-sing a body portion connectable to an article, a float portion, and a renewable cartridge, said body portion, float portion, and cartridge forming three separable units, and said cartridge having oppositely disposed heads one of which is readily connectable to said body portion and the other of which is readily connectable to said oat portion, said headsV being normally connected by a release member which is releaseable when submerged in water in response to the action of water thereon, spring means normally held under compression by said release member for aiding release, and a normally compacted retrieving line normally confined within said cartridge and forminga part of the cartridge unit and connected at one end to one of said heads and at its other end to the other of said heads.

8. A retriever comprising a hollow body portion connectable to an article and having a float opening, a float normally positioned adjacent said opening, a spring normally housed in compressed condition within said body and having an end adjacent said oat, a cartridge within said body having oppositely disposed heads one of which is connected to said-body and the other of which is connected to said float to normally connect Said iioat to said body while maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is so positioned as to be subject `to strains from the energy stored in said spring and which is so constructed as to be unable to resist said strains when acted upon by water, and a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads.

9. A retriever comprising a hollow body portion connectable to an article and having a float opening, a float normally positioned Yadjacent said opening, a spring normally housed in compressed condition within said body and having an end adjacent said float, a cartridge Within said body having oppositely disposed heads one of which is detachably connected to said body and the other of which is detachably connected to said float to normally connect said float to said body while maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is so positioned as to be subject to strains from the energy stored in said spring and which is so constructed as to be unable to resist said strains when acted upon by water, and a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads.

10. A retriever comprising a hollow body portion connectable to an article and having a float opening, a float normally positioned adjacent said opening, a coil spring normally housed in compressed condition within said body and having an end adjacent said oat, a cartridge within said coil spring having oppositely disposed heads one of which is connected to said body and the other of which is connected to said float to normally connect said float to said body while maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is so positioned as to be subject to strains from the energy stored in said spring and which is so constructed as to be unable to resist said strains when acted upon by water, and a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads.

11. A retriever comprising a hollow body portion connectable to an article and having a float opening, a float normally positioned adjacent said opening, a spring normally housed in compressed condition within said body and having an end adjacent said iioat, a cartridge within said body having oppositely disposed heads one ofwhich is connected to said body and the other of which is connected to said iioat to normall7 connect said float to said body While maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is so positioned as to be subject to strains from the energy stored in said spring and which is so constructed as to be unable to resist said strains when acted upon by water, a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads, and a Water soluble dye normally housed within said cartridge.

12. A retriever comprising a hollow cylinder having an open end and having a closed end vformed with a hole, a oat normally closing said open end, a coil spring normally housed in compressed condition within said cylinder and having one end adjacent said loat and having its opposite end adjacent said closed end ofthe cylinder, a cartridge Within said cylinder having oppositely disposed heads one of which has a bolt projecting therefrom through the hole in the closed end of the cylinder to provide for connection of the retriever to an article, the other` head of said cartridge being detachably connected to said float, said cartridge normally connecting said iioat to said body while maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is releaseable when submerged in water in response to the action of Water thereon, and a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads. 13. A retriever comprising a hollow cylinder having an open end and having a closed end formed with a hole, a float normally closing said open end, a coil spring normally housed in compressed condition within said cylinder and having one end adjacent said float and having its opposite end adjacent said closed end of the cylinder, a cartridge within said coil spring having oppositely disposed heads one of which has a bolt projecting therefrom through the hole "in the closed end ofthe cylinder to provide Afor connection of the retriever to an article, the other head of said cartridge being detachably connected to said iioat, said cartridge normally connecting said float to Said body while maintaining said spring in compressed condition, said cartridge including releaseable means normally connecting said heads which is releaseable when submerged in water in response to the action of water thereon, and a retrieving line normally housed in said cartridge and having its ends connected to said cartridge heads.

14. A retriever comprising a body portion, a oat portion, a renewable cartridge having opposite ends and including means releaseable .when submerged in water in response to the action oi' water thereon for normally connecting said float portion to said body portion, and a retrieving line Within said cartridge and connected to said opposite ends thereof, one of said cartridge ends being connected at one end to said body portion and the other of said cartridge ends being connected to said float portion.

15. A retriever comprising a body portion, a oat portion, a renewable cartridge having opposite ends and including means releasable when submerged in Water in response to the action of water thereon for normally connecting Asaidffloat portionto said body portion, a retrieving line within said cartridge and connected to `said opposite ends thereof, one of said cartridge ends being connected at-one end to said body portion and the other of said cartridge ends being connected to -said oat portion, and a spring within said body portion within which energy is normally stored, said spring being positioned to act against said float.

LAYTON E. PERKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

